National Check the Chip Day is coming soon, a time to remind pet owners to get their pets microchipped, and to confirm that all your information with the microchip company is accurate and up to date.

Why is microchipping so important?  According to the American Animal Hospital Association, ten million pets are lost each year, but only one in ten is found.

Microchipping improves the chances that you and your missing pet will be reunited.  It’s a simple procedure that can be done in a quick vet office visit.

If your pet is already microchipped, make sure that your registration is completed and updated in the chip manufacturer’s database.

If your pet is lost, the Universal Pet Microchip Lookup Tool allows veterinarians and animal shelters to search the databases of almost all the microchip companies.

Remember to make sure that all your contact information (address, phone number, email, etc.) is current and accurate.  Many registries will also let you input photos and detailed descriptions of your pet to help the identification process.  If your pet was chipped as a puppy or kitten, chances are that old profile might need some updating!